The Current Role of the WTO in Multilateral Trade Governance: Crises and Continuities

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/desafios/a.13235

Article Sidebar

PDF (Español (España)) XML (Español (España)) XML (Español (España))

Published: Nov 23, 2023
Issue: Vol. 35 No. Especial (2023): Conflicto en Ucrania, guerra global
Section General Section


Keywords: World Trade Organization crises multilateralism multilteral trading system dispute settlement transparency

Main Article Content

Authors

  Juliana Peixoto Batista
Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (Argentina)
  Joaquin Maquieira Alonzo
Universidad Católica del Uruguay

Abstract

This article carries out a systemic analysis of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in the midst of its current crisis. The main argument is that, although the wto is going through a deep crisis in real and symbolic terms, it keeps playing an important role in the increasingly complex multilateral trade governance. The paper analyzes the three main functions that the wto fulfills in the multilateral governance of trade are: Being a forum for trade negotiations, providing an efficient system for settling trade disputes, and being an arena for discussion and review of minimum trade policy standards. The article is divided into three parts, each one dealing with one of the functions. In the first, the proposals for reform of the wto are analyzed and the main issues that have advanced in recent years are exposed; in the second section, the performance of its dispute resolution system is analyzed as well as the debate on its reform. The third section analyzes the activities of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism. To conclude, we outline some final reflections. The research is based on a review of specialized literature on the subject, the analysis of primary sources (official documents of the wto), including communications from member countries, joint declarations, reports of bodies and commissions, in addition to data available on the organization’s website.

How to Cite
Peixoto Batista, J., & Maquieira Alonzo, J. (2023). The Current Role of the WTO in Multilateral Trade Governance: Crises and Continuities. Desafíos, 35(Especial), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/desafios/a.13235
References

Bown, C., & Keynes, S. (2020). Why did Trump end the wto’s appellate body? Tariffs. Petterson Institute for International Economics (piie). https://www.piie.com/blogs/trade-and-investment-policy-watch/why-did-trump-end-wtos-appellate-body-tariffs

Chaisse, J., & Matsushita, M. (2013). Maintaining the wto’s supremacy in the International Trade Order: A proposal to refine and revise the role of the trade policy review mechanism. Journal of International Economic Law, 16(1), 9-36. https://doi.org/10.1093/jiel/jgs043

Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (Cepal). (2008). Guía práctica

de solución de diferencias en la omc. https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/publication/files/3637/S2008846_es.pdf

Francois, J. F. (1999). Maximizing the benefits of the trade policy review mechanism for developing countries. Tinbergen Institute & cepr. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=3419396f1955715ee5bf3ca3840165072a5b848d

Gao, H. (2021). Finding a Rule-based solution to the appellate body crisis: Looking beyond the multiparty interim appeal arbitration arrangement. Journal of International Economic Law, 24(3), 534-550. https://doi.org/10.1093/jiel/jgab031

Geneva Trade Pattlaform. (s. f.). Multi-Party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (mpia). https://wtoplurilaterals.info/plural_initiative/the-mpia/

Heidrich, P., & Peixoto, J. (2019, abril). Multilateral trade institution in peril: Re-assessing the value of the wto as a public good [ponencia]. International Research Seed Grant Award, Universidad de Carleton/Canadá, Abril.

Hoekman, B. (2020). wto reform priorities post-covid-19. East Asian Economic Review, 24(4), 337-348. https://dx.doi.org/10.11644/kiep.eaer.2020.24.4.383

Hoekman, B. M., & Mavroidis, P. C. (2015). wto ‘à la Carte’or ‘Menu du Jour’? Assessing the case for more plurilateral agreements. European Journal of International Law, 26(2), 319-343. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chv025

Hoekman, B. M., & Mavroidis, P. C. (2021). wto reform: Back to the past to build for the future. Global Policy, 12, 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12924

Hoekman, B., & Sabel, C. (2019). Open plurilateral agreements, international regulatory cooperation and the wto. Global Policy, 10(3), 297-312. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12694

Hoekman, B., & Sabel, C. (2021). Plurilateral cooperation as an alternative to trade agreements: Innovating one domain at a time. Global Policy, 12, 49-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12923

Hoekman, B., & Wolfe, R. (2021). Reforming the World Trade Organization: Practitioner perspectives from China, the eu, and the us. China & World Economy, 29(4), 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/cwe.12378

Karlas, J., & Parízek, M. (2019a). Supply of policy information in the World Trade Organization: Cross-national compliance with one-time and regular notification obligations, 1995-2014. World Trade Review, 1-21. https://doi:10.1017/S1474745618000393

Karlas, J., & Parízek, M. (2019b). The process performance of the wto trade policy review mechanism: Peer‐reviewing reconsidered. Global Policy, 1-9. https://doi:10.1111/1758-5899.12672

Keohane, R. O. (1988). Después de la hegemonía: Cooperación y discordia en la política económica mundial. Grupo Editor Latinoamericano.

Keohane, R., Moravcsik, A., & Slaugther, A. M. (2000). Legalized dispute resolution: Interstate and transnational. International Organization, 54(3), 457-488.

Kucik, J., Peritz, L., & Puig, S. (2023). Legalization and compliance: How judicial activity undercuts the global trade regime. British Journal of Political Science, 53(1), 221-238. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123422000163

Laird, S., & Valdés, R. (2012). The trade policy review mechanism. En M. Daunton, A. Narlikar, & R. M. Stern (Eds.), The Oxford handbook on The World Trade Organization (pp. 463-484). Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199586103.013.0022

Lang, A. (2011). World trade law after neoliberalism: Reimagining the global economic order. Oxford University Press.

Lester, S. (2020). Can interim appeal arbitration preserve the wto dispute system? Free Trade Bulletin, 77. https://www.cato.org/free-trade-bulletin/can-interim-appeal-arbitration-preserve-wto-dispute-system

Mavroidis, P. (2012). Free lunches? wto as public good, and the wto’s view of public goods. European Journal of International Law, 23(3), 731-742. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chs055

McDougall, R. (2017). Search for solutions to save the wto appellate body. European Centre for International Political Economy. http://ecipe.org//app/uploads/2017/12/Bulletin-03.17.pdf

McDougall, R. (2018). Crisis in the wto: Restoring the wto dispute settlement function. Center for International Governance Innovation (cigi). https://www.cigionline.org/static/documents/documents/Paper%20no.194.pdf

Narlikar, A. (2022). How not to negotiate: The case of trade multilateralism. International Affairs, 98(5), 1553-1573. https://academic.oup.com/ia/article/98/5/1553/6686642

Organización Mundial del Comercio (omc). (2018). Procedimientos para aumentar la transparencia y fortalecer las prescripciones en materia de notificación previstas en los acuerdos de la omc. job/gc/204.

https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/ss/directdoc.aspx?filename=s:/Jobs/gc/204.pdf&Open=True

Organización Mundial del Comercio (omc). (2022a, 28 de abril). Procedimientos para aumentar la transparencia y mejorar el cumplimiento de las prescripciones en materia de notificación previstas en los acuerdos de la omc. job/gc/204/Rev.9. https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/ss/directdoc.aspx?filename=s:/Jobs/gc/204R9.pdf&Open=True

Organización Mundial del Comercio (omc). (2022b, 5 de diciembre). Informe del órgano de examen de las políticas comerciales para 2022: Mecanismo de examen de las políticas comerciales. wt/tpr/488. https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/ss/directdoc.aspx?filename=s:/wt/tpr/488.pdf&Open=True

Organización Mundial del Comercio (omc) (s. f.). Mecanismo de examen de las políticas comerciales (“mepc”). https://www.wto.org/spanish/tratop_s/tpr_s/annex3_s.htm#fnt-1

Organización Mundial del Comercio (omc). (s. f.a). Iniciativas conjuntas. https://www.wto.org/spanish/tratop_s/jsi_s/jsi_s.htm

Organización Mundial del Comercio (omc). (s. f.b). Iniciativa conjunta sobre la Reglamentación Nacional en el ámbito de los Servicios. https://www.wto.org/spanish/tratop_s/serv_s/jsdomreg_s.htm#ftnte

Pauwelyn, J. (2019). wto dispute settlement post 2019: What to expect? Journal of International Economic Law, 22(3), 297-321.

Pauwelyn, J. (2023). The wto’s multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (mpia): What’s new? World Trade Review, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474745623000204

Payosova, T., Hufbauer, G. C., & Schott, J. J. (2018). The dispute settlement crisis in the World Trade Organization: Causes and cures. piie Policy Brief, 18(5). https://piie.com/publications/policy-briefs/dispute-settlement-crisisworld-trade-organization-causes-and-cures

Peixoto Batista, J. P. (2010). Flexibilities for developing countries in the Doha round as À La Carte special and differential treatment: Retracing the Uruguay steps. Brazilian Journal of Latin American Studies, 9(16), 164-191. http://www.usp.br/prolam/downloads/2010_1_9.pdf

Peixoto Batista, J. P. (2016). Armonización y fragmentación de las reglas en el sistema internacional: Un acercamiento al caso de la omc. Revista Relaciones Internacionales, 25(50), 45-74. https://revistas.unlp.edu.ar/rrii-iri/article/view/2683

Peixoto Batista, J. P. (2018). El constitucionalismo internacional y el caso de los protocolos de adhesión de la Organización Mundial de Comercio. Revista Cuestiones Constitucionales, 38(1), 168-197. https://doi.org/10.22201/iij.24484881e.2018.38

Plummer, M. G., & Tafti, A. (2014). Transparency in international trade policy. En J. Forssbaeck & L. Oxelheim (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of economic and institutional transparency (pp. 166-178). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199917693.013.0007

Primo Braga, C. A., & Hoekman, B. (Eds.). (2017). Future of the Global Trade Order (2.ª ed.,

pp. 117-146). European University Institute.

Real Academia Española. (2023). Diccionario panhispánico de español jurídico. https://www.dpej.rae.es

Sacerdoti, G. (2017). The future of the wto dispute settlement system: Confronting challenges to consolidate a success story. En C. A. Primo Braga & B. Hoekman (Eds.), Future of the global trade order (2.ª ed., pp. 117-146). European University

Institute. https://doi.org/10.2870/169287

Sinha, A. (2021). Understanding the “crisis of the institution” in the liberal trade order at the wto. International Affairs, 97(5), 1521-1540. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiab109

Soobramanien, T. Y., & Vickers, B. (2019). Reshaping the wto: Some reflections on a way forward. wto Reform: Reshaping Global Trade Governance for 21st Century Challenges. En T. Soobramanien, B. Vickers, & H. Enos-Edu (Eds.), wto Reform: Reshaping global trade governance for 21st century challenges (pp. 77-88). Commonwealth Secretariat. https://doi.org/10.14217/00e90b64-en

Stasavage, D. (2004). Open-door or closed-door? Transparency in domestic and international bargaining. International Organization, 58(4), 667-703. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818304040214

Sutherland, P., Bhagwati, J., Botchwey, K., FizGerald, N., Hamada, K., Jackson, J. H., Lafer, C., & Montbrial, T. de. (2005). El futuro de la omc: Una respuesta a los desa fíos institucionales del nuevo milenio. Organización Mundial del Comercio. https://www.wto.org/spanish/thewto_s/10anniv_s/future_wto_s.htm

Tempone, E. (2007). Los dilemas institucionales de la omc: Comentarios sobre el “Informe Sutherland”. Agenda Internacional, 14(25), 181-199. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=6302562

Tussie, D., & Peixoto Batista, J. (2010). Tomorrow never dies? El colapso de Doha y lecciones de la historia. Cadernos Adenauer, 9(3), 101-112. Ungphakorn, P. (2022a, 27 de julio). “Notification and review” sounds dull but is essential for wto reform. Trade β Blog: Reflections on Trade and More. https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/07/18/notification-review-essential-wto-reform/#transparency

Ungphakorn, P. (2022b, 7 de agosto). Texts: Wto reform proposals on enhancing transparency and review. Trade β Blog: Reflections on Trade and More. https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/proposal-wto-reform-transparency-review/

Ungphakorn, P. (2023a, 9 de febrero). Experts: India, S. Africa unlikely to succeed in blocking wto services deal. Trade β Blog: Reflections on Trade and More. https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2023/02/07/india-s-africa-unlikely-succeed-services/#more-21631

Ungphakorn, P. (2023b, 11 de febrero). Explainer: The 18 wto Plurilaterals and “Joint-Statement Initiatives”. Trade β Blog: Reflections on Trade and More. https://tradebetablog.wordpress.com/2022/01/03/17-wto-plurilaterals-joint-statement/

Wilkinson, R. (2017). Back to the future: “Retro” trade governance and the future of the multilateral order. International Affairs, 93(5), 1131-1147. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix158

World Trade Organization. (2019, 27 de febrero). DG Azevêdo: “The time is now to confront systemic challenges”. https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news19_e/dgra_27feb19_e.htm

Wolfe, R. (2013). Letting the sun shine in at the wto: How Transparency brings the trading system to life. World Trade Organization. http://dx.doi.org/10.30875/1ddcf17f-en

Zelicovich, J. (2019). La crisis de la omc y el trilema de las negociaciones comerciales internacionales. Revista Relaciones Internacionales, 92(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.15359/ri.92-1.1

Zelicovich, J. (2020). Hacia una nueva reforma de la Organización Mundial de Comercio: Análisis de su proceso de posicionamiento en la agenda internacional reciente. Revista Relaciones Internacionales, Estrategia y Seguridad, 15(1), 43-60. https://doi.org/10.18359/ries.4014

Query Statistics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Publcation metrics

260 262




 

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Los derechos de autor serán de la Universidad del Rosario. Cuando el autor quiera publicar el manuscrito en otra publicación, deberá pedir a la Editorial de la Universidad del Rosario los permisos correspondientes. De igual forma, cuando la Revista esté interesada en publicar artículos que ya han sido publicados en otras revistas, procederá a solicitar los permisos correspondientes en la editorial donde se realizó la primera publicación. Bajo una Creative Commons Attribution License, los autores pueden compartir el trabajo con un reconocimiento de la autoría del trabajo y la publicación inicial en esta revista.